Tweedbank innovation park plans approved

Councillors have agreed to progress plans for an innovation park in Tweedbank to provide modern facilities for new and expanding businesses and support future private investment in the area.Scottish Borders Council has already identified capital funds for the project, which will see the development and improvement of council-owned land.It is proposed that funding from the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal is finalised for the project, with additional support from Scottish Enterprise and the Borders Railway Blueprint group to be confirmed.Councillors also unanimously agreed to the adoption of a Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) for Tweedbank which enables development to take place without the need for planning consent, provided it complies with development parameters and conditions. This will make the location more attractive for businesses considering relocating to the Borders and the development of premises quicker.An independent report in 2013 identified that commercial office space near the Borders Railway terminus could create up to 350 new jobs, and as a result a project to develop new business infrastructure in Tweedbank was included in the Borders Railway Blueprint document to build on the potential of the railway itself.Currently just one high quality modern office premise is immediately available in the central Borders, and there is no modern manufacturing space available. The council is therefore seeking to take a lead role in developing new employment infrastructure to attract inward investment, new jobs to the area, and allow existing local businesses to expand.